The Kirkus Prize is one of the richest literary awards in the world, with a prize of $50,000 bestowed annually to authors of fiction, nonfiction and young readers’ literature. It was created to celebrate the 81 years of discerning, thoughtful criticism Kirkus Reviews has contributed to both the publishing industry and readers at large. Books that earned the Kirkus Star with publication dates between November 1, 2014, and October 31, 2015, are automatically nominated for the 2015 Kirkus Prize, and the winners will be selected on October 23, 2015, by an esteemed panel composed of nationally respected writers and highly regarded booksellers, librarians and Kirkus critics.

KIRKUS REVIEW

After Clair's parents kiss her good-bye, she feels sad; but she shares a hug with Grandmother (who looks sad, too) and goes upstairs to put her things in her mother's old room before helping to set the table (the macaroni ``is good. But I like the way my mother makes it better''). The quiet narrative, with dialogue limited to rather formal exchanges in the beginning, nicely evokes the feelings of a thoughtful child who's not quite familiar enough with her grandmother to be at ease in her home. Still, as Schachner's sensitively limned illustrations suggest, Grandmother may be reticent but she does understand how Clair feels. After supper, she introduces her to her ``special friend'' Jennifer, Clair's age; later, she reads to Clair from her mother's copy of Alice in Wonderland and finds her her mother's treasured toy ``White Rabbit'' to take to bed. A well-crafted story, gently suffused with affection. (Easy reader. 4-8)

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